46 A R.EPOR. TER. AT LAR.GE TO BELLE VUE FOR. OBSER. V A TION W HEN one of our simple citi- zens takes it into his head to stroll up Central Park West in the nude, or assures a policeman, who has found him denouncing a N edick's Inan, that he is God, the newspaper account of the incident usually ends with the line "Jones was taken to Bellevue for observation." That seems to be the end of it, as far as the papers are concerned. No matter how quaint or spectacul r the conceit which brought ] ones this brief notice, they are seldom interested in following him further. I have always been curious to know what happens to people who are thus taken to Bellevue. So I asked a friend of mine, a doctor. He told me that if I wanted to learn the sort of work that is being done in the clinic, I might at- tend one of the psychiatric conferences that are held twice a month, under the direction of Dr. Bowman of the Psy- chiatric Hospital, for the benefit of staff members and outside doctors. These meetings are not open to the public, of course, but a layman can get in with special permission. The meeting I went to was sched- uled for eight-thirty in the evening. I arrived a little early and spent a few moments looking at the prancing stal- lions and screaming eagles in the murals which cover the walls of the reception hall, compliments of the WP A. c Then I went on into the conference room. There is a small stage at one end, with a movie screen for a backdrop, and flanking the stage there is a glass cal1- board where numbers flash occasion- ally, summoning doctors and internes who are needed promptly elsewhere in the hospital. In front of the stage rises a tier of seats. There was an engaging spirit of in- formality about the audience gathered there. I was rather surprised at the number of women attending. On the stage was Dr. Bowman, and with him a dark, mustached man who turned out to be Dr. Schilder, the Austrian psychia- trist who made the front pages not long ago by declaring "Alice in W on- derland" a pernicious influence on the child mind. Things got under way with agree- able dispatch. Dr. Bowman stepped to the front of the stage, glanced vaguely a.t us through rimless glasses, and said, "The first case-alcoholism, with hal- lucinations. Presented by Dr. Borsky." Dr. Borsky was young and tall and - - -...,. , J, :i 'i'llll\f [ ':> --'^" .. , .., ... ,,:: :: J:;: :: . / Ii" , r · \td SÞ: 'ri ' 'ft competent-looking. He placed a sheaf of papers on the stand and tried to turn on the light. It didn't work. Some- one from the audience stepped up and plugged the cord in the socket. The doctor spoke clearly and defi- nitely. "This patient wàs admitted to the Ward two weeks ago, suffering from acute alcoholism. He was born in Hungary thirty-eight years ago and came here at the age of sixteen. His em- ployment record is good; he has made as much as fifty dollars a week as a waiter." The doctor thumbed through his papers. "Medical diagnosis revealed negative Wassermann; reflexes were slow; heat therapy was indicated. The patient's conversation is wandering; he exhibits a definite paranoiac complex. This paranoia shows the usual hallu- cinatory reactions. The patient thinks he is being followed, fears disfigure- 'ment at the hands of his pursuers." He cleared his throat. "I would prefer to ha ve you hear the patient's story in his own words." He walked to the wings and beckoned with his finger. . ...,.;.::. ",iJii , .. ....... :..."...^"-"_.- < <' .... :', /j , ' I, . "".- .. t. < " . :: ..;. . 1 's .',:': .._.N'.,y. .1"'i. -:; J " Jjft A small, meek-looking Inan loosely wrapped in a hospital bathrobe came out on the stage. He walked hesitant- ly, twisting his dark head this way and that. His hands moved convulsively to- gether. "Sit down, George," said Dr. Bor- sky. The man shrank back. "No, no. I don't want to be electrocuted." The doctor took him by the arm. "It's all right, George. I'm your friend. No one's going to hurt you." George was still suspicious. "You get inside my mind," he said accusingly. "You listen to what I think." Dr. Borsky explained to his listen- ers, "The patient has a terror of all med- ical equipment. He shows a definite paranoiac development. For example, he thinks a stethoscope will draw out his thoughts, that it's a sort of radio that penetrates his mind. . . . All right, G . d " eorge, SIt own. Gingerly, George placed himself on the edge of the chair, looked at us wide- eyed, his head still moving irresolute- ? r' w .:.....;: .::;::: : : :: :i '!'J{ :' '1:: : , .= I ::' r I1' "," ',' . I ::"' fj l' :$t::: .. ......;...- :.......................... " ,tH, nn ':;?::' f ' ' .. 'K. ...... , , ': ,:," ' - .... . , _:: ' ;';' ., ",$1" mI ',::, ' ' ,':'..""","."... ,\.. ,, ,, \r Z.O::_:":: . <;; ). . l. : t. \,' 'V \t.::',.. ::. ':"< ..... . .. , ? {.. A J(; :', :::;r ":,,, L tJ I r> '"' J. f " ..'0"'.." 0-, .. ; ' ._ 1f ; .. <<Ji1,-" .......:.n.... . )1;'"",,:.:. --"' ""'" '" øj "Step in closer, please' Don't block the sidewalk'"